Nigeria’s Biodiversity on the Brink: NCF Urges President to Sign Endangered Species Act on World Biodiversity Day
…As Nigeria’s biodiversity faces unprecedented pressure, NCF urges urgent action on the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and the immediate signing of the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill into law
LAGOS, 21ST MAY 2026: As Nigeria’s biodiversity faces mounting threats, on World Biodiversity Day 2026, the Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF) is calling on government, communities, businesses, and citizens to turn global commitments into local actions.
Nigeria is one of Africa’s most biodiverse nations. Our savannas, montane forests, rainforests, freshwater swamps, floodplains, and coastal and marine habitats support nearly 8,000 plant species across 338 families and over 22,000 animal species, including insects, fish, birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. In terms of overall biodiversity richness, Nigeria ranks 36th globally, with particularly high diversity in birds, mammals, and vascular plants.
Yet this natural wealth is disappearing at an alarming rate. Nigeria has one of the highest deforestation rates in the world, with over 90% of its original forest cover already lost. Habitat fragmentation, climate change, overexploitation, pollution from oil spills and gas flaring, and invasive alien species continue to drive species decline and ecosystem degradation. Illegal, indiscriminate and unsustainable wildlife hunting and exploitation, often facilitated through social media and informal markets further undermine conservation gains.
Dr. Joseph Onoja, Director General, Nigeria Conservation Foundation said “Biodiversity loss is not an abstract global problem. It is happening in our forests, wetlands, and communities, and it affects food security, water, health, and livelihoods. World Biodiversity Day 2026 is a reminder that global targets are only achieved when local actors take responsibility. The Kunming–Montreal Framework gives us the roadmap. The NBSAP gives us the plan. What we need now is execution at the local level, where ecosystems are managed and communities live”
Nigeria’s revised National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) aligns with the 23 global targets of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and commits the country to halting biodiversity loss by 2030 through effective management of high-priority areas and protecting at least 30% of land, inland waters, and coastal and marine habitats in well-connected networks. The plan tackles direct drivers of loss such as unsustainable harvesting, pollution, and invasive species, while prioritizing ecosystem restoration, enhanced ecosystem services, and the mainstreaming of biodiversity values into development planning and budgeting across all sectors. It also promotes sustainable use of resources in agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and other sectors; establishes frameworks for fair access and benefit-sharing of genetic resources and traditional knowledge; strengthens science, monitoring, and data systems; expands education, capacity building, and public awareness; and outlines pathways to mobilize national, private, and international finance to close the implementation gap.
NCF emphasizes that action must be inclusive, evidence-based, and well-funded. While biodiversity research in Nigeria is increasing, it remains far below global output. Without urgent investment and integration with poverty reduction strategies, the window to reverse loss will close.
Over the next five years, NCF will continue to prioritize conservation actions for key species and ecosystems most at risk, working with communities, state governments, academia, and the private sector. This includes strengthening the protection and management of priority habitats, combating illegal hunting and wildlife trade through enforcement, monitoring, and public reporting, education, awareness and restoring degraded landscapes through community-led initiatives. We will also build local capacity for biodiversity monitoring and ensure that data informs decision-making, while integrating biodiversity values into development planning at state and local levels.
On this World Biodiversity Day, NCF calls on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to immediately signing of the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill, 2025 into law as passed by the national assembly. This legislation is long overdue and will provide the legal backbone needed to prosecute wildlife crimes, regulate trade, and deter the exploitation of threatened species.
We call on government at all levels to fully fund and implement NBSAP targets and enforce existing wildlife protection laws without delay. Businesses must adopt biodiversity-positive practices and invest in nature-based solutions that secure both ecological and economic resilience.
We appeal to Nigerian citizens to renew their sense of pride and responsibility for the natural heritage we have been blessed with. Value what is ours by exploring and using biodiversity sustainably, supporting eco-tourism, and choosing consumption patterns that do not drive species to extinction. Every citizen has a role in stopping the promotion of indiscriminate hunting of wildlife on social media and stop celebrating social media posts that glorify animal cruelty and illegal trade.
